Town contracts with Albany marketing firm for plan to attract businesses

continued  “They are not going to be with us forever, so we’ll take the training wheels off,” Koetzle said.

Claridge said the marketing plan is only in the initial stages and he will likely meet with town officials next week to start planning. The initial process will include establishing positive attributes of the town while identifying what aspects can be improved. Also, the firm will look into what resources are available for the town to tap into.

“The primary message to entrepreneurs and business leaders is to know that Glenville is open for business,” Claridge said. “You have to tell the story of Glenville to a particular audience.”

So far, Claridge said he sees positive elements to the town, such as low taxes and a solid residential base.

“Initially, it looks like it has been a very well run town,” he said. “The Town of Glenville usually has good news and not bad news compared to places like Schenectady, Albany or Troy. I think the Town of Glenville has a reputation for being a nice community and a place where people want to live.”

While the firm will look at the town from an economic standpoint, he said it would “only be a small part” of the story the firm will showcase.

“The supervisor is very forward thinking and proactive in his approach,” he said. “I don’t think there are a lot of communities in the Capital Region that said … we are going to do anything we can to promote our municipality.”

He said elected officials must be active in selling their community to stimulate economic development and create new job opportunities.

Resident John Gaetani wasn’t sold on the town contracting with the firm, though.

“I’m not really sure we need an advertising company or whatever this is,” Gaetani said.